Lightning continue off-season makeover by signing Vrbata, Hall and Kolzig

TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Lightning continued their off-season makeover Tuesday by signing free-agent forwards Radim Vrbata and Adam Hall to three-year contracts and free-agent goalie Olaf Kolzig to a one-year deal.

Vrbata, who had 56 points (27-29) in 76 games for the Phoenix Coyotes last season, inked a $9-million contract. The 27-year-old Czech winger has 226 points (102-124) in 422 career NHL regular-season games.

Kolzig has spent his entire NHL career with the Washington Capitals. The 38-year-old South African owns team goaltending records for games played (711), wins (301), save percentage (.906) and shutouts (35).

"Olaf is a real stabilizer in the locker-room and on the ice," Lightning vice-president of hockey operations Brian Lawton said in a release. "With Karri Ramo, Olaf Kolzig and Mike Smith we have a great deal of depth at the goaltending position and we like all the options that allows us moving forward."

Kolzig posted a 25-21-6 record last season with a 2.91 goals-against average and .892 save percentage.

Hall, a six-foot-three, 206-pound native of Kalamazoo, Mich., has recorded 108 points (51-57) in 352 career NHL regular-season games with Nashville, the New York Rangers, Minnesota and Pittsburgh. He played 17 playoff games for the Penguins during their run to the Stanley Cup final, recording three goals and one assist.

"Adam brings us versatility as a defensive player and he is a character guy who will help us get back into the playoffs," Lightning owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie said in a release. "He was very impressive this past post-season and we think he brings some intangibles that every team needs to be successful."

On Monday, the Lightning announced a $31.5-million, seven-year deal with winger Ryan Malone, a $14-million, four-year contract with winger Vaclav Prospal and a one-year contract with veteran forward Gary Roberts.

Koules and Barrie have been on the job for less than two weeks and already have also come to a basic agreement on a $77-million, nine-year agreement with superstar centre Vincent Lecavalier, a deal that should be officially announced later this month.